Volume 74, Number 32 | December 15 – 21, 2004
Scoopy’s notebook
New V.I.D. prez: Chad Marlow recently stepped down as president of Village Independent Democrats. In contested elections, William Stricklin was elected the club’s president and Doug Singsen, Charles Stimson and Leonore Enken were elected V.I.D.’s three vice presidents.
New GLID prez: Manhattan’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political club, Gay and Lesbian Independent Democrats has chosen its first transgender woman president — making her the first transgender person in New York State to head a major Democratic political club. Melissa Sklarz, a member of Community Board 2, who was GLID’s female vice president, unanimously won election as president of the club last Wednesday night. She succeeds outgoing club president Brad Hoylman, who served for the last three years. Lorna Gottesman was elected GLID’s female vice president. Tony Simone is the new male vice president.
Kosher Mass? Could it be that the Mitzvah Tanks have been taking tips from Critical Mass? Villagers reported seeing about 20 of the Mitzvah Tank trailers — and 30 to 40 Mitzvah Vans — clogging W. 14th St. and other spots around the Village last Saturday night. The tanks hand out Chanukah menorahs and candles and try to get nonobservant Jews to come in and pray in the vehicles.
Code red at P.S. 64: The Villager called the Landmarks Preservation Commission the other day for an update on the status of the old P.S. 64/CHARAS El Bohio building, much of which Gregg Singer is planning to demolish to construct a 19-story student dormitory. Spokesperson Diane Jackier said Commissioner Robert Tierney’s comment to us from a few weeks ago — that L.P.C. is “reviewing” whether the building should be calendared for a designation hearing — still stands. The East Village Community Coalition is asking members to call 311 and “leave a message for Mayor Mike: Ask him to landmark the old P.S. 64. and return it to the Lower East Side as the community center it used to be.” On Wed., Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m., Councilmember Margarita Lopez will hold a town hall meeting at the “new” P.S. 64, at E. Sixth St. and Avenue B, in the auditorium, to plan the future of the old P.S. 64. Michael Rosen, a founder of E.V.C.C., and his wife, Leslie Gruss, are hosting a fundraiser for Lopez’s borough president campaign at their penthouse apartment on Thurs., Dec. 16, at Christodora House — next door to the old P.S. 64.
A Hawke was stirring…: Actor and Chelsea resident Ethan Hawke will read Clement Clarke Moore’s famous poem, “A Visit From St. Nicholas,” at Chelsea Community Church’s 30th Annual Candlelight Carol Service on Sun., Dec. 19 at 6 p.m., in St. Peter’s Church, 346 W. 20th St. There is no charge. St. Peter’s Church stands on land that was part of Moore’s farm in the 19th century.
WWPS41D? As part of its fundraising efforts, P.S. 41 is selling orange bracelets. They will soon start being sold in local stores.
Lyle loves it: Lyle, the little, 1-year-old American Eskimo stray dog that was running around in the Village a few months ago, has been taken in by Tracey and Randy Sides of West Village D.O.G. They’ve tried to place him but haven’t found the right home yet, and are still searching for his owner. But they may just keep him, as the little fella is reportedly devoted to Tracey.
Corrections: An article in last week’s issue on Bill Clinton’s speech at a forum on energy policy at New York University incorrectly stated Clinton claimed that under his administration the U.S. had cut energy consumption by 30 percent. What Clinton said was that under his administration, the federal government cut its energy use by 30 percent…. A recent item about the Christmas tree in Washington Sq. noted that Santa will join the carolers on Christmas Eve, who will begin singing at 5 p.m. However, while Santa attended the recent tree lighting, he will not be able to make it for Christmas, as he will be busy delivering presents — or lumps of coal.
